Control means for tractorconnected implements



CONNECTED IMPLEMENTS Jul 4, 1950 R. D. ACTON CONTROL MEANS FOR TRACTOR-2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 22, 1944 1950' R. D. ACTON2,513,906

CONTROL MEANS FOR TRACTOR-CONNECTED IMPLEMENTS Original Filed March 22,19 4 2 Sheets-Sheet asseZfl wick Patented July 4, 1950 CONTROL MEANS FORTRACTOR- CONNECTED IMPLEMEN TS Russel D. Acton, Chicago, Ill., assignorto International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Originalapplication March 22, 1944, Serial No. 528,672. Divided and thisapplication April 20, 1946, Serial No. 663,714

1 Claim.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.528,672, filed March 22, 1944, issued November 12, 1946, into Patent No.2,410,918 and reissued November 11, 1947 into Patent No. Re. 22,932.

The present invention relates to a control means for a tractor-connectedimplement. More specifically, it relates to fluid-pressure means forcontrolling or adjusting a tractor-mounted or a trail-behind implement.

It is known to provide a tractor-connected implement with a fluid-powerdevice for adjusting and controlling the implement, the device beingactuated by the power of the tractor. With such an arrangement there isnormally a hose for fluid running from the tractor to the implement. Thedisadvantage is that when the implement is disconnected from the tractorthe fluid-power means must also be disconnected from the implement orfrom the tractor or from both, and this normally requires adisconnection of a line or conduit through which fluid is passed. Withthe break of a fluid line there is considerable danget of loss of thefluid. In the present invention the fluid-power means is removed withoutbreaking of the fluid-carrying line.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved controlmeans for a tractorconnected implement.

Another object is the provision of a unit type hydraulicpower-transmitting device particularly adapted for adjusting atractor-connected implement from a power lift mechanism.

A further object is the provision of an improved pressure-fluid meansfor adjusting a trail-behind tractor-connected implement from thetractor.

Another object is to provide a plurality of remote controls fortractor-connected implements whereby structure or elements functioningindependently of each other may be separately adjusted.

According to the present invention, a pair of detachable units eachcomprising a first cylinder with a piston therein, a second cylinderwith a piston therein, and a connecting conduit are mounted so that onecylinder of each unit is upon a tractor and the other cylinder is uponor connected to an implement carried by or connected to the tractor. Thepiston in the cylinder on the tractor is shifted in the cylinder bypower derived from the tractor power plant acting through externalmechanical means on the tractor. When the implement is to bedisconnected from the tractor, the one cylinder is disconnected Icylinder and the piston on the tractor from the source of tractor poweris made at the external mechanical means through which power is suppliedto the cylinder of the piston. Thus, there is no disconnection through afluid line, and the disadvantages of such a disconnection are avoided.Moreover a hydraulic or mechanical power-lift mechanism as supplied onmany tractors can be utilized to adjust flexibly connected implementswith ease and accuracy.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of a tractor with a harvesting machine attachedthereto incorporating a modification of the invention in which two pushtool hydraulic devices are utilized;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tractor shown in Figure 1 with twoseparate power-lift cylinders indicated in dotted lines; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the central bodyportion of the tractor shown in Figure 2 and with a portion broken awayto expose a rock shaft mounting.

In the drawings as shown in Figure l, a tractor is utilized having adouble power lifting arrangement as shown in Figures 2v and 3. In saidfigures, the rock-shafts and the independent cylinders are clearly shownas well as levers and links for efiecting independent manual control ofeither of the lifting arms. The details of the valves are not shown, asthis invention is concerned with the transmission of power from theindependent lifting arms to implements confrom the implement, and thedisconnection of the 56 nected to the tractor. The power liftconstruction and all the operating elements thereof are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,427,871, issued September 23, 1947.

The tractor includes a narrow central body portion 15 and a rear bodyportion 16 from which rear axle structures I1 extend. Traction wheels 18are mounted on axles carried by the axle structures 11. Certain otherparts of the tractor are shown including an operator's station 19, agasoline tank 80, a steering column support 8|, a steering column 82,and a steering wheel 83. As indicated by dotted lines in Figures 2 and3, the central body portion 15 contains a pair of power liftingcylinders 84. Each of said cylinders is pivotally connected to a bracketrigid with respect to the body portion 15. Each of the cylinders, asshown in Figures 3 and 4, is also provided with a conventional'piston 86connected by a piston rod 81 with a crank arm 88 projecting downwardlyfrom and rigid with a sleeve 89.

The sleeve 89 is secured to a shaft 90 rotatably mounted in a journalportion 9| formed in the casting of the body portion 15. A power liftarm 32 is connected to each of the shafts 90. It will be understood thatthe lifting arm 92 may be connected at any angular position on the shaft90 either extending upwardly or downwardly.

Control levers with the hydraulic rams 84-36 to control the admittanceand exhaust of fluid from the ends of the cylinders 84. Each lever H2 isconnected by a link I I3 with a, manually operable lever I I4 swingablealong a quadrant II6 of a tractormounted bracket II5. Swinging of eitherlever II4 will cause movement of the associated ram plunger 86 adistance and direction correlated with the distance and direction ofswingin of such lever. The levers H4 and consequently the ram plungersand the power lift arms 92 are, therefore, independently maneuverable.

Referring to Figure 1, a bracket structure H1 at the rear of the bodyportion 16 of the tractor extends upwardly including two brackets I I8and H3. An hydraulic cylinder I20 is pivotally connected to the bracketI I8, a piston I2I in the cylinder having a piston rod I22 extendingfrom the cylinder and-pivotally connected to one of the lifting arms 92.A second cylinder I23 is pivotally connected to the upper bracket I I9.A piston I24 in the cylinder I23 has a piston rod I25 extendingforwardly to a point of pivotal connection to the second lifting arm 92.

A flexible conduit I26 connected to the cylinder I20 extends rearwardlyto a point of connection with a cylinder I21. A flexible conduit I2 8extends rearwardly to a point of connection with a cylinder I29.Cylinder I20 serves as a tractormounted guide for the piston I2I whichconstitutes a proximate member reciprocally therein. Cylinder I21 servesas an implement-mounted guide for the piston I49 which constitutesaremote member reciprocally therein. The hose or sheath I26communicating between the guides I20 and I21 normally contains an oilcolumn which serves as a force-transmitting medium in forcetransmittingrelation between said proximate and remote members I2II49 and movablelengthwise in said sheath to transmit motion between said members. Theterminology just applied to the ram couple I20I2II21-l49 and theinterconnecting hose I 26 correspondingly applies to the ram coupleI23-I24--I29I45 and the interconnecting hose I28.

A harvester thresher illustrated in outline has been shown as beingconnected to the tractor at the rear thereof. Said harvester thresher,indicated in its entirety bythe reference character I30, is carried onsupporting wheels provided with rubber tires, one of which I3I is shownin the drawing. A frame structure I32 extending forwardly from theharvester thresher is connected by a pin I33 with a draw-bar structureI34 rigidly secured to the rear axle extension 11 of the tractor. Theharvester thresher is conventional in the art and includes principally athresher part I35 and a harvester part I36 pivotally mounted at I31 onthe thresher part. A reel structure includes a frame I36, one side ofwhich shown in the drawing is pivotally connected at I40 to theharvester part I36. A reel MI is rotatably carried by the frame I38.Said reel is mounted on a shaft I42 journaled in brackets I43 mounted onthe forwardly extending portions of the frame I38. A bracket I43,mounted on a portion of the frame structure I38, provides an attachmentpoint for a piston rod I44 connected to a piston I45 mounted in thecylinder I29. The cylinder II2 are respectively associated itself ispivotally connected at I46 to the harvester part I36 at a point spacedfrom the pivotal connecting point I40 of the reel-frame. It will beunderstood, therefore, that the movement of the piston I45 relative tothe cylinder I29 vertically adjusts the reel structure with respect tothe hatvester part I36. during the operation of a harvester thresher dueto the adjustment of the harvester part which will be hereinafterdescribed and due to the height and type of grain being harvested.

' The cylinder I21 is pivotally connected at I41 with a'bracket I48depending downwardly from the draft frame structure I32. A piston I49 inthe cylinder I21 is provided with a piston rod I50 which is pivotallyconnected at I5I with the harvester part I36. It will be understood thatany movement of the piston I49 relative to its cylinder I21 willvertically adjust the harvester part I36. This adjustment is necessaryin the operation of a harvester thresher and is frequently used duringpassage through the field due to the variation in the type of grain andthe type of undergrowth in the grain.

When an operator is harvesting grain with the tractor implementcombination shown in Figure 1, he has at his complete control thevertical adjustment of the reel'and the harvester part with respect tothe other and with respect to the ground level. Due to the use offlexible conduits I26 and I28, any mechanical connections are avoided,and the pivot point of the draft frame I32 on the tractor relative tocontrolling mechanism need be given no consideration. Moreover it isunnecessary to extend long and complicated mechanical controls from thetrailing implement to the tractor. Theoperator has at his command, bymerely moving the control lever I I4, the exact position of the reelwith respect to the harvester part I36 and the position of the harvesterpart I36 with respect to the ground. A tractor having built in powerlifting mechanisms may be utilized, the push-pull hydraulic units whichmake possible the use of mechanical lifting arms being entirelyindependent from the tractor power lift system.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that novel means havebeen devised for controlling either an implement directly connected to atractor or one pulled therebehind in trailing relation. This meansutilizes in combination a hydraulic fluid system complete in itself witha mechanical member forming part of a tractor power lift mechanism. Itenables an operator to use a tractor having any type of power liftmechanism in conjunction with an implement which must be controlledduring operation of the tractor. The degree of control obtainabledepends upon the characteristics of the tractor power lift mechanism. Inthe power lift construction herein illustrated two power lift mechanismsare provided of the follow-through type in which the operator maymanually select the position of the power lift arms with the power liftmechanism following and throwing out automatically when the selectivepoint is reached. This two-unit type of mechanism provides for use ofthe device of the invention with an implement where it is necessary inorder to control the implement to independently adjust two differentelements of the implement. Two uses of this arrangement are shown inFigure 1.

The outstanding utility of a device as disclosed in the variousmodifications is that the hydraulic actuating system may be provided asan attach Such adjustment is necessary ment which is complete withinitself and which does not require connection into the hydraulic systemof a hydraulic lift mechanism. Breaking of the fluid conduit or leakagedoes not affect the tractor power lift mechanism. Moreover these unitsmay be used at diiferent times, on different tractors, and on differentimplements by merely providing the necessary attaching brackets.

It is the intention to limit the invention only within the scope of theappended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a tractor including independently operablepower-actuated members thereon and control elements manipulatable torespectively incur movement of the power-actuated members into selectedpositions and maintain them in such positions; an implement connectedwith the tractor, said implement including a frame movable relatively tothe tractor and also including a movable part mounted on said frame formovement in complemental relation with respect thereto; a pair of powertransmitting units each comprising a flexible sheath, a tractormountedguide at one end of such sheath, an implement-mounted guide at theopposite end of such sheath, a proximate member reciprocally in thetractor-mounted guide, a remote member reciprocally in theimplement-mounted guide, and a force transmitting medium in the sheathin force transmitting relation between said proximate and remote membersand movable lengthwise in the sheath to transmit motion between suchmembers; means detachably connecting one of the proximate members andits guide respectively to and between one of the power-actuated membersand another part of the tractor; means detachably connecting the otherproximate member and its guide respectively to and between the otherpower-actuated member and another part of the tractor; means detachablyconnecting one of the remote members and its guide respectively to andbetween the implement frame and another part of the implement; and meansdetachably connecting the other remote member and its' guiderespectively to and between said movable implement part and saidimplement frame.

RUSSEL D. ACTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,819,605 Johnston Aug. 18, 19312,206,656 Boldt July 20, 1940 2,212,465 Baldwin Aug. 20, 1940 2,226,563Keith Dec. 31, 1940 2,319,458 Hornish May 18, 1943 2,373,450 Boldt Apr.10, 1945 2,375,912 Gifford et al May 15, 1945 2,410,918 Acton Nov. 12,1946

